Paraguay president: I’ll sell cigarette factory

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Paraguay’s new President Horacio Cartes says he’s willing to sell off his cigarette-making business that has often drawn criticism from foreign governments worried about contraband.

At a news conference on his first full day on the job, Cartes said that “if someone’s paying, they can take my cigarette factory.”

Cartes denies any responsibility for sales of contraband cigarettes in Brazil, saying that’s a “currency trading problem” due to exchange rates.

He says Paraguay is open to foreign investors and will respect private property.